Jorge Linares seeks third world title

LOS ANGELES (Dec. 29) Still eight months shy of his 30th birthday, Jorge “El Nino de Oro” Linares (37-3, 24 KOs) has the opportunity to become the youngest Venezuelan to win world titles in three divisions when he faces Mexico’s Javier “Implacable” Prieto(24-7-2, 18 KOs) for the vacant WBC Lightweight World Championship on Tuesday, December 30 at the Metropolitan Gym in Tokyo, Japan.

Linares, a former featherweight and super featherweight world champion, has been undefeated for more than two years, winning six consecutive bouts, four by knockout. The 27 year old Barinas native and Tokyo resident defeated Nihito Arakawa (25-5-1, 16 KOs) via decision in a 2014 March title eliminator, and is currently ranked number one by the WBC. He kept busy by knocking out Ira Terry (26-13, 16 KOs) in two rounds in August. Now he’s ready to take on the 27-year-old Prieto, who is unbeaten in his last 10 bouts and is ranked number two by the WBC.

Javier “Implacable” Prieto from Apatzingan, Michoacán, Mexico is the current WBC Silver Lightweight Champion and is eager to conquer the WBC Lightweight World Championship against Linares. He is coming off 12-round draws against Ivan “Macanón”Cano (22-6-2, 15 KOs) in May and September. This will his first world title bout.

Linares vs. Prieto is a 12-round bout for the vacant WBC Lightweight World Championship, taking place at the Metropolitan Gym in Tokyo, Japan and promoted byAkihiko Honda’s Teiken Boxing Gym in association with Ohachi Promotions.

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